Japanese professional wrestler
- Akihito Terui[3]
- Masked Italiano
- Milano Collection A. T.
Billed height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2] |
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Billed weight | 85 kg (187 lb)[4] |
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Billed from | Milan, Italy[2] |
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Trained by | Skayde Magnum Tokyo[4] Último Dragón Rudy Boy Gonzalez Texas Wrestling Academy |
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Debut | May 13, 2000[2] |
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Retired | January 18, 2010 |
Akihito Sawafuji (澤藤 章人, Sawafuji Akihito, born August 27, 1976),[1][2][4][5] is a Japanese color commentator and retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Milano Collection A. T. (ミラノコレクションA.T., Mirano Korekushon Ē Tī). As Milano, Sawafuji adopted the gimmick of an Italian fashion aficionado/supermodel, reflected in his ring attire. Milano is also known for walking to the ring with an invisible dog known as Mikeru. After retiring from in-ring competition in 2010, Milano began working as a color commentator for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), a position he maintains to this day.
Professional wrestling career
Toryumon and Dragon Gate (2000–2005)
Sawafuji debuted in 2000 in Toryumon, where he later adopted the persona and ring name of Milano Collection A. T., an Italian fashion aficionado/supermodel, wearing lavish coats and trunks and walking to the ring with an invisible dog named Mikeru to much more success, and upon his arrival in Japan, he was the ace of Toryumon's T2P class. In 2002, he won the T2P Strongest Merit Assessment League defeating Masato Yoshino and received the NWA International Light Heavyweight Championship for the win. He then went on to form the Italian Connection with Yossino and Yassini.[6] The unit eventually added members Pescatore Yagi, Condotti Shuji, Anthony W. Mori and mascot Venezia. With the closure of T2P in July 2003, he joined the Toryumon main roster.
American excursion (2005–2006)
In mid-2006, he began training at the Texas Wrestling Academy in San Antonio, Texas at the urging of WWE's Shoichi Funaki, and trained under Rudy Boy Gonzalez. He also wrestled for many other American wrestling federations, including East Coast Wrestling Association, Ring of Honor (ROH), NWA Anarchy, Chikara and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), where he took part in the 2008 World X Cup as part of Team Japan, winning his first and only singles match for TNA against Curry Man, gaining 2 points for his team.[7] He then competed at Victory Road in the third round, which was a four team triple elimination match, dominating early in the match before getting eliminated.[8]
New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2007–present)
After returning to Japan full time in 2007, he began working for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) as a part of the R.I.S.E. faction. He received his first title opportunity in New Japan on November 6, 2006, unsuccessfully challenging Tiger Mask IV for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship.[9] He achieved his greatest success in both New Japan and as a professional wrestler in 2007 when he won New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Best of the Super Juniors tournament, defeating Wataru Inoue in the final.[10] In August, he took part in the G1 Climax, finishing with 2 wins and 4 points. In November, he teamed with Hirooki Goto as R.I.S.E in the G1 Tag League, making it to the semi-finals where they were eliminated by Hiroshi Tanahashi and Koji Kanemoto.[11]
On January 18, 2010, Sawafuji announced his retirement from professional wrestling because of inferior oblique muscle palsy, brought on by an excessively strong thrust kick to the eye by Gedo. A retirement ceremony was held on February 14.
Sawafuji remains with New Japan as a member of the IWGP Championship Committee and a color commentator.
As a trainer
Sawafuji is currently a trainer for World Wonder Ring Stardom.[12]
Wrestlers trained
- Aya Sakura[12]
- Giulia[13]
- Hanako[12]
- Miyu Amasaki[12]
- Yuzuki[12]
Championships and accomplishments
References
- ^ a b 食いっぱぐれない技術に憧れた. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). 2012-06-13. Archived from the original on 2014-02-21. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
- ^ a b c d e f "ミラノコレクションA.T." New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2010-06-18. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
- ^ 闘龍門MEXICO 第13回自主興行 [Toryumon Mexico 13th Independent Show]. Dragongate (in Japanese). May 3, 2000. Archived from the original on August 11, 2004.
- ^ a b c d e f "Milano Collection A.T. profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2013-02-03.
- ^ a b c d "Profile at Puroresu Central". Puroresu Central. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
- ^ "Italian Connection". Cagematch. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
- ^ Sokol, Bryan (2008-07-04). "Impact: Bad dates and Sting's return". SLAM! Sports. Archived from the original on July 24, 2012. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Kapur, Bob (2008-07-13). "Main event mars Victory Road". SLAM! Sports. Archived from the original on June 30, 2012. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "NJPW Circuit 2006 Explosion ~ G1 Tag League ~ - Tag 13 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". Archived from the original on 2021-12-16.
- ^ "NJPW New Japan 35th Anniversary Tour Circuit 2007 Best Of The Super Junior XIV ~Power of Mind". Cage Match. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ "NJPW 35th Anniversary Tour ~ Circuit 2007 New Japan Truth ~G1 Tag League~ - Tag 10 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". Archived from the original on 2016-01-21.
- ^ a b c d e T.SAKAI (November 30, 2023). ミラノ先生「練習時間の確保を」 復活スターダムに向け岡田社長に進言. Kakuto Log (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- ^ "Q&A with Joshi Superstar Giulia". Monthly Puroresu. September 11, 2022. Archived from the original on November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2007". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
External links
- Puroresu Central profile
- Milano Collection A. T.'s profile at Cagematch.net
Links to related articles |
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Open the Triangle Gate Champions |
2000s | - Italian Connection (Milano Collection A. T., Anthony W. Mori and Yossino)
- Do Fixer (Dragon Kid, Genki Horiguchi and Ryo Saito)
- Blood Generation (Cima, Don Fujii and Naruki Doi)
- Blood Generation (Cima, Magnitude Kishiwada and Masato Yoshino)
- BxB Hulk, Cima and Jack Evans
- Muscle Outlaw'z (Naruki Doi, Gamma and Masato Yoshino)
- Pos.Hearts (BxB Hulk, Anthony W. Mori and Super Shisa)
- Typhoon (Cima, Ryo Saito and Susumu Yokosuka)
- Muscle Outlaw'z (Naruki Doi, Gamma and Magnitude Kishiwada)
- New Hazard (BxB Hulk, Cyber Kong and Shingo Takagi)
- Muscle Outlaw'z (Magnitude Kishiwada, Masato Yoshino and Naruki Doi)
- Mushozoku (Don Fujii, K-ness. and Masaaki Mochizuki)
- Real Hazard (Gamma, Shingo Takagi and Yamato)
- Tozawa-juku (Kenichiro Arai, Taku Iwasa and Shinobu)
- Real Hazard (Gamma, Yasushi Kanda and Yamato)
- Zetsurins (Don Fujii, Magnitude Kishiwada and Masaaki Mochizuki)
- Kamikaze (Dragon Kid, Shingo Takagi and Taku Iwasa)
- Warriors-5 (Cima, Gamma and Kagetora)
- World-1 (BxB Hulk, Masato Yoshino and Pac)
- Zetsurins (Akebono, Don Fujii and Masaaki Mochizuki)
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2010s | - Deep Drunkers (Kzy, Takuya Sugawara and Yasushi Kanda)
- Warriors (Cima, Gamma and Genki Horiguchi)
- World-1 (Naoki Tanizaki, Naruki Doi and Pac)
- Naoki Tanizaki, Takuya Sugawara and Yasushi Kanda
- Blood Warriors (Cima, Dragon Kid and Ricochet)
- Junction Three (Gamma, Masato Yoshino and Yamato)
- Blood Warriors (Kzy, Naoki Tanizaki and Naruki Doi)
- Jimmyz (Genki Horiguchi H.A.Gee.Mee!!, Jimmy Kanda and Ryo "Jimmy" Saito)
- World-1 International (Masato Yoshino, Naruki Doi and Pac)
- Mad Blankey (Akira Tozawa, BxB Hulk and Naoki Tanisaki)
- Kaettekita Veteran-gun (Gamma, HUB and Magnitude Kishiwada)
- World-1 International (Masato Yoshino, Naruki Doi and Shachihoko Boy)
- Jimmyz (Genki Horiguchi H.A.Gee.Mee!!, Mr. Kyu Kyu Toyonaka Dolphin/Naoki Tanizaki and Ryo "Jimmy" Saito)
- World-1 International (Naruki Doi, Rich Swann and Shachihoko Boy)
- M2K (Masaaki Mochizuki, Jimmy Susumu and K-ness.)
- Oretachi Veteran-gun (Dragon Kid, K-ness. and Masaaki Mochizuki)
- Mad Blankey (BxB Hulk, Cyber Kong and Yamato)
- Millennials (Eita, Flamita and T-Hawk)
- Jimmyz (Jimmy Susumu, Mr. Kyu Kyu Naoki Tanizaki Toyonaka Dolphin and Ryo "Jimmy" Saito)
- Jimmyz (Jimmy Kanda, Jimmy Susumu and Mr. Kyu Kyu Naoki Tanizaki Toyonaka Dolphin)
- Millennials (Eita, T-Hawk and U-T)
- Mad Blankey (Cyber Kong, Kzy and Naruki Doi)
- Oretachi Veteran-gun (Cima, Don Fujii and Gamma)
- Jimmyz (Genki Horiguchi H.A.Gee.Mee!!, Jimmy Susumu and Ryo "Jimmy" Saito)
- Dia.Hearts (Big R Shimizu, Dragon Kid and Masaaki Mochizuki)
- Jimmyz (Genki Horiguchi H.A.Gee.Mee!!, Jimmy Kagetora and Jimmy Susumu)
- Monster Express (Akira Tozawa, Masato Yoshino and T-Hawk)
- Jimmyz (Jimmy Kanda, Jimmy Susumu and Ryo "Jimmy" Saito)
- VerserK (Cyber Kong, Shingo Takagi and T-Hawk)
- MaxiMuM (Ben-K, Big R Shimizu and Naruki Doi)
- VerserK (El Lindaman, Shingo Takagi and Takashi Yoshida)
- Tribe Vanguard (BxB Hulk, Kzy and Yamato)
- MaxiMuM (Masato Yoshino, Naruki Doi and Jason Lee)
- Natural Vibes (Kzy, Genki Horiguchi and Susumu Yokosuka)
- R.E.D (Kazma Sakamoto, Takashi Yoshida and Yasushi Kanda)
- Strong Machine Gundan (Strong Machine J, Strong Machine F and Strong Machine G)
- R.E.D. (Diamante, H.Y.O and Takashi Yoshida)
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2020s | - Team Toryumon (Dragon Kid, Kenichiro Arai and Ryo Saito)
- Team Dragon Gate (Ben-K, Dragon Dia and Strong Machine J)
- R.E.D. (Diamante, Kazma Sakamoto and Takashi Yoshida)
- R.E.D. (Kazma Sakamoto, SB Kento and Takashi Yoshida)
- Masquerade (Dragon Dia, Jason Lee and La Estrella)
- R.E.D. (Eita, Kaito Ishida and H.Y.O)
- Masquerade (Jason Lee, Kota Minoura and Shun Skywalker)
- Natural Vibes (Kzy, U-T and Jacky "Funky" Kamei)
- Gold Class (Naruki Doi, Kaito Ishida and Kota Minoura)
- Los Perros del Mal de Japón (Eita, Nosawa Rongai and Kotaro Suzuki)
- Stinger (Yoshinari Ogawa, Seiki Yoshioka and Yuya Susumu)
- Momo No Seishun Tag (Daisuke Harada and Atsushi Kotoge) and Yo-Hey
- M3K (Masaaki Mochizuki, Susumu Mochizuki and Mochizuki Jr.)
- Z-Brats (Ishin Iihashi, Kai and Shun Skywalker)
- Gold Class (Ben-K, BxB Hulk and Kota Minoura)
- Natural Vibes (Kzy, Big Boss Shimizu and Jacky "Funky" Kamei)
- Gold Class (Naruki Doi, Kota Minoura and Minorita)
- Dragon Kid, Punch Tominaga and Yamato
- Z-Brats (Ishin, Kai and Yoshiki Kato)
- Natural Vibes (Big Boss Shimizu, Strong Machine J and U-T) (current)
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New Japan Pro-Wrestling personnel |
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Wrestlers | Heavyweight | |
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Junior heavyweight | |
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Young Lions | |
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Women's divison | |
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Staff | |
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Stables and tag teams | |
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Top/Best of the Super Juniors winners |
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- Shiro Koshinaka (1988)
- Norio Honaga (1991)
- Jyushin Thunder Liger (1992, 1994, 2001)
- Pegasus Kid/Wild Pegasus (1993, 1995)
- Black Tiger (1996)
- El Samurai (1997)
- Koji Kanemoto (1998, 2002, 2009)
- Kendo Kashin (1999)
- Tatsuhito Takaiwa (2000)
- Masahito Kakihara (2003)
- Tiger Mask (2004, 2005)
- Minoru (2006)
- Milano Collection A. T. (2007)
- Wataru Inoue (2008)
- Prince Devitt (2010, 2013)
- Kota Ibushi (2011)
- Ryusuke Taguchi (2012)
- Ricochet (2014)
- Kushida (2015, 2017)
- Will Ospreay (2016, 2019)
- Hiromu Takahashi (2018, 2020, 2021, 2022)
- Master Wato (2023)
- El Desperado (2024)
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UWA World Trios Champions |
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1980s | |
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1990s | |
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2000s | - Crazy-Max (Cima, Suwa and Big Fuji)
- M2K (Darkness Dragon, Yasushi Kanda and Susumu Mochizuki)
- Dragon Kid, Magnum Tokyo and Ryo Saito
- M2K (Darkness Dragon, Masaaki Mochizuki and Susumu Mochizuki)
- Italian Connection (Milano Collection A. T., Yossino and "brother" Yasshi)
- Do Fixer (Genki Horiguchi, Ryo Saito and Susumu Yokosuka)
- Shin M2K (Kenichiro Arai, Dragon Kid and Masaaki Mochizuki)
- Italian Connection (Milano Collection A. T., Condotti Shuji and Yossino)
- Hagure Gundam/Aagan Iisou (Toru Owashi, Condotti Shuji and Yassini)
- Kenichiro Arai, Dragon Kid and Second Doi
- Gedo, Jado and Katsushi Takemura
- Los Salseros Japoneses (Takayasu Fukuda, Pineapple Hanai and Takeshi Minamino)
- Hell's Demons (Takuya Sugawara, Brahman Shu and Brahman Kei)
- Nobutaka Araya, Toru Owashi and Takuya Sugawara
- The Italian Four Horsemen (Francesco Togo, Piza Michinoku and Antonio Honda)
- Belt Hunter×Hunter (Danshoku Dino, Hikaru Sato and Masa Takanashi)
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2010s | - Tokyo Gurentai (Fujita, Mazada and Nosawa Rongai)
- Atsushi Kotoge, Daisuke Harada and Takoyakida
- Ebessan (III), Kanjyuro Matsuyama and Kuishinbo Kamen
- Hikaru Sato, Keisuke Ishii and Yoshihiko
- Great Kojika, Mr. #6 and Riho
- Shit Heart♥Foundation (Hikaru Sato, Michael Nakazawa and Tomomitsu Matsunaga)
- Disaster-Box (Harashima, Toru Owashi and Yukihiro Abe)
- Jackets (Jiro Kuroshio, Seiki Yoshioka and Yasufumi Nakanoue)
- Real Desperado (Kazma Sakamoto, Koji Doi and Nosawa Rongai)
- Kaz Hayashi, Minoru Tanaka and Tajiri
- Andy Wu, Daiki Inaba and Seiki Yoshioka
- Jun Kasai, Nosawa Rongai and Shuji Kondo
- New Era (Daiki Inaba, Kohei Fujimura and Yusuke Kodama)
- Kaz Hayashi, Masayuki Kono and Shuji Kondo
- New Era (Andy Wu, Koji Doi and Kumagoro)
- Kaz Hayashi, Manabu Soya and Shuji Kondo
- Jay Freddie, Jiro Kuroshio and Kumagoro
- Ganseki Tanaka, Manabu Soya and Nosawa Rongai
- New Era (Jiro Kuroshio, Koji Doi and Kumagoro)
- Enfants Terribles (Seigo Tachibana, Shotaro Ashino and Yusuke Kodama)
- New Era (Koji Doi, Kumagoro and Takanori Ito)
- Sento Minzoku (Daiki Shimomura, Isami Kodaka and Ryuichi Sekine)
- Takato Nakano, Takumi Tsukamoto and Yasu Urano
- Sparky (Ryota Nakatsu, Naoki Tanizaki and Akiyori Takizawa)
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2020s | |
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